Report with a proposal for a European Parliament recommendation to the Council on the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly

(2012/2036(INI))

This non-legislative report by Alexander Graf LAMBSDORFF (ADLE, DE) was written for and adopted by the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Members ask the European Parliament to address some recommendations to the Council. These recommendations are made in light of the fact that Members consider that the EU is committed to “effective multilateralism with a strong UN at its core”, and that a solid and stable EU-UN partnership is fundamental to the work of the UN. Some of these recommendations are summarised as follows:

The EU at the UN: The EU wants to enhance its contribution to the UN and improve coordination, transparency and the exchange of information in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). As a global actor, the EU hopes to strengthen its coherence and visibility at the UN.

The EU and global governance: Advance the strategic concern of effective multilateralism of the EU by enhancing the transparency, accountability, efficiency and effectiveness of the UN.

Peace and security: Peace-keeping and peace-building, Responsibility to Protect (R2P), Mediation and International justice are all key points that the recommendation addresses. Each point requires further strengthening and development.

Human rights: Ensuring that all human rights agreed under UN conventions are considered universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated, and further promoting the UN’s policy on human rights in all aspects of its work. It also wishes to continue the progress made on the call for a moratorium on the use of the death penalty. It also aims to support the African-led initiative and the recommendation of the Commission on banning female genital mutilation (FGM) worldwide.

Democracy support: Members want to help ensure local ownership of the democratic process and the development of a culture of democracy and the rule of law. Their recommendations include focusing on social and economic inclusion, democratic transition and political/electoral processes, the participation of young people in parliamentary democracy, and the protection of freedom of expression, freedom of conscience and freedom of religion and the protection of women’s rights.

Development: The main aims here are to not reduce the level of aid through the EU and to keep it focused on targeting poverty and hunger. Other points include:

- Consider committing 20% of EU assistance solely for basic social services such as health and education

- to continue work on the development of the ambitious post 2015 Millennium Development Goals Agenda;

- to give priority to food security, agriculture, infrastructure, economic growth, favourable markets and new businesses, access to technologies, and human and social development in the LDCs (least developed countries).

Climate change, global environmental protection and sustainability: Members would like to see the EU take a leading role in this area. They call upon it to support biodiversity and climate protection in the developing countries, participate actively in the debate on the term ‘climate refugee’ and develop dialogue with BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) and developing countries alongside further development of the European External Action Service’s capacities to build up an EU climate diplomacy policy.

The European Parliament adopted without vote the report on the 13th June 2012.

To read the report click here

Alternatively visit the website at www.europarl.europa.eu

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